Transport ministry tasks states on inland water transportation

BY MIKE OCHONMA

The Ministry of Transportation on has charged state governments to key into developments of inland water transportation.

Ajani Magdalene Nwanwuche, permanent secretary, federal ministry of transportation, gave the charge at an event in Abuja.

She said that, the deployment of deep blue sea project for safety and secured shipping is a major achievement as well as increased public, private sector engagement in the development of world class facilities within the properties of the Nigerian Inland Water ways Authority (NIWA) in Lagos state. She encouraged other states to key into development of inland water transportation” she said.

President Muhammadu Buhari recognizes the importance of the transportation sector to the industrialization and diversification of the Nigerian economy, hence it leveraged the sector by reviving and rehabilitating existing transport infrastructure providing new ones as well as ensuring the development of professional capacity building for manpower to drive the sector.

According to her, transportation constitute a significant factor to national economic prosperity as transportation facilitates international and local trades, supports food security, generates employments, delivers energy and enables industrial and infrastructural development.

The ministry official also stated that the development of deep seaports, ports and the automation of the nation’s ports operations to facilitate the ease of doing business are the thoughts and evidence realities of the ministries for sector developments.

She concluded that the ministry of transportation is not deterred in its vision to evolve a world class transportation system in Nigeria.